Jo Dadley

Regional Qualification(s):

Cumbria, South East England

Language(s):

English

Phone Number(s):

07972 288214, 01892 457341

Contact guide

Introduction:

I grew up in Tunbridge Wells and later lived in Windsor for many years. After moving to Windermere in The Lake District, I qualified as a Blue Badge Guide for Cumbria in 2000. I am also qualified as a Windsor town and Castle guide as well as for South East England where I now live. In the past I have worked extensively as a tour manager with large groups all over England and also as a driver-guide in Cumbria.
Before becoming a Blue Badge Guide I travelled the world as an air stewardess with British Airways and love to introduce visitors, especially from overseas, to the history, sights and beautiful scenery of Britain.

Personal Interests:

Historic Houses and Castles

Literary Lakeland

Industrial heritage

Folklore and Traditions

Historic houses and Gardens

Literary tours

Gardens

Architecture

Special Interests:

Gardens

The south east has a wealth of beautiful gardens to visit: Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Great Comp, Marle Place, Pashley Manor, Sheffield Park, Nymans, Wakehurst Place
Visit the lovely gardens of Cumbria from the exotic topiary at Levens Hall to wonderful fellside gardens not generally open to the public.

Walking Tours

Discover the secrets and scandals of the historic spa resorts of Tunbridge Wells and Brighton, also Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals, Rye and the Cinque Ports.

Literature

Literary tours in South East England include Charles Dickens in Rochester, Jane Austin, Rudyard Kipling at Batemans and The Bloomsbury Group at Charleston Farmhouse. In Cumbria the Lake Poets - Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey. Also Beatrix Potter at Hilltop, John Ruskin at Brantwood.

Countryside

Tour the picturesque villages of Kent, known as The Garden of England: Pluckley, the most haunted village in Kent, Smarden - one of the prettiest with many timber framed houses, Horsmonden for its horse fair and hop picking connections.
Cumbria, known as the most beautiful corner of England with its magnificent scenery of fells and tarns, lakes, waterfalls and forests. Picturesque villages such as Grasmere, Hawkhurst and Cartmel.

Castles & Palaces

Accredited Windsor Castle guide. Tours of Windsor & Eton, also Hampton Court Palace.
Dover Castle and the secret wartime tunnels. Leeds, known as the loveliest castle on earth, Hever, home of Anne Boleyn, Penshurst, seat of the Sidney family for over 500 years.

Tours of historic houses and palaces in the south east with royal connections: Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Dover Castle, Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, to name a few. Hear about the life and work of our present Queen Elizabeth 11

Architecture

From Norman Castles to the Arts and Crafts movement - From William of Normandy to William Morris with a sprinkling of Tudor and Victoriana on the way.